One of the most daring air operations of the Second World War included New Zealand pilot Flight Lieutenant Maxwell Nicholas Sparks as a participant.
Sparks had volunteered for the RNZAF in 1941 and his log records 45 missions with 487 (NZ) Squadron. Having flown 11 trips initially in the Ventura 1 light bomber, the squadron was rested and converted to the De Havilland Mosquito twin-engined bomber.
On February 18, 1944, along with his regular navigator P/O Dunlop, he was briefed for a dangerous bombing operation on Amiens Prison – which would become known as Operation Jericho.